With the busyness of modern day life and the stress that comes with it, it is even more important in today’s hectic world that our homes are a sanctuary, a safe haven from the daily pressures we all experience. Feng Shui is a multifaceted philosophy that prescribes the arrangement of objects in relation to space for the express purpose of achieving harmony. When Feng Shui is applied to interior design, it can help you transform any room, whether it’s the living room, bedroom, dining room, den or family room, into a tranquil, sacred sanctuary. And you’re not limited by bamboo or an Oriental décor design; Feng Shui decorating can be applied to a room of any furniture style, including country and traditional.

Through the proper application of the beliefs and principles of Feng Shui, a person’s natural connection with the five energies – tree, fire, earth, metal and water – that surround us can be a conduit to balance and harmony. In turn, balance and harmony create an environment that is positive and energizing in a calming, restful way. You can delve into Feng Shui as much or as little as appeals to you. But by following the simple rule of incorporating the five main elements into each room of your home and arranging the furniture in a certain way to create a flow of positive energy, you can greatly benefit from some Feng Shui basics.

According to Feng Shui principles, the color palette you choose for your living room will depend on where it is located in relation to the “bagua,” a map in the Feng Shui system that correlates nine geographic locations, (north, south, east, etc.) to nine aspects of our lives (health, fame, creativity, etc.). To simplify it, Feng Shui colors, while it does tend to focus on neutral tones and earth shades, it also can include muted shades of brighter tints as well as “metal” colors like gold and silver (color palette shown here from Benjamin Moore). The color of the living room determines the predominant energy or chi that will influence the room. Whatever color you decide upon, it should be gentle and calming.

Tree feeds fire; fire creates ash which forms earth; earth harbors ores and metals; metal naturally becomes water; water nourishes the tree. Profiles and lines of living room furniture pieces should be uncomplicated, flowing and tranquil.

The sofa sets the stage for relaxing, hanging out or just plain vegging. Since the tree is associated with the color green and represents prosperity and wealth, the green Klaussner Furniture Delaney Sofa would be ideal for a Feng Shui living room.

Because the most common material for living room furniture is wood, it will be easy to surround yourself with tree energy.

The lines of the Furnitech Contemporary Asian 70 Inch Wood TV Stand are clean, emphasizing the geometric detailing of the glass doors.

With its gentle spin on a classic style of bookcase, the Homelegance 4 Piece Dark Cherry Barrister Bookcase Set possesses subtle Asian influences.

Fire symbolizes action and liveliness; it is naturally energizing and is associated with people, art and animals. The Kenroy Home Flow Oil Rubbed Bronze Table Lamp with Poppy Red Shade would nicely add a little “fire” to a contemporary styled living room.

Since fire (the color red) is ideal for the areas in your home where you socialize, it is the perfect element for a living room. In a modern or contemporary décor, the red tabletops of the Modloft Crosby Rotating Square Coffee Table definitely contribute a little luck and recognition.

For a more traditional décor, place the Pulaski Accents Secretary Desk in Brown/Red against a short wall or next to a window.

Represented by the colors yellow and brown, earth symbolizes patience, stability and the center of all things. Earthy materials include terracotta and ceramic.

Essentially, these five elements create a circular flow of energies and all five should be present when decorating a living room. An end table like the Standard Safari End Table with Glass Top brings metal into the mix.

But you could also accessorize with lamps like the AF Lighting Danbury Table Lamp that have brass, bronze or copper or other alloy bases. Metal is symbolized by the harvest, a time to reap the benefit our labors and efforts. It also represents security, financial success and happiness.

The Kenroy Home Agua Indoor/Outdoor Floor Fountain is of course the color that most commonly represents water. The second color is black. But you don’t have to plan on putting a fountain in every room of your home that you want to Feng Shui. You can bring the water element into your living room through framed pictures of ocean scenes, waterfalls or lakes. When accessorizing the living room, include a fish bowl, aquarium or a vase of flowers.

Feng Shui is all about balanced and the balanced flow of energy or chi. To create the ideal living room environment, all five energies must work together in harmony. This simply means that no one element should overpower the other.

Come back next week for part two of Transforming Rooms into Sacred Places.